India’s “energy diplomacy” with Russia will reap strategic dividends
Vladimir Putin embraces Narendra Modi during a session at SPIEF in 2017. PHOTO: AFP
India’s “energy diplomacy” with Russia will reap strategic dividends
It must be cautioned, however, that this scenario would risk complicating India’s recent rapprochement with China
The opening of the “Indian Energy Centre” in Moscow on Tuesday will reap strategic dividends for both sides. One of the world’s largest energy importers is showing its keen interest in expanding cooperation with one of the world’s largest energy exporters. It’s a perfect match between natural partners, but there’s more to it than just business. This development represents the long-overdue decision by New Delhi to more eagerly engage in “energy diplomacy” with Moscow, which will assist the recalibration of both of their delicate “balancing” acts between Great Powers, especially China. India simultaneously wants to reduce its dependence on West Asian energy imports in parallel with expanding its strategic presence in the Russia’s Far East and Arctic regions, while Moscow wants to reduce its growing dependence on Chinese energy exports in parallel with “balancing” Beijing’s strategic presence in those two aforementioned regions as well.